we are looking to travel to Tanzania in Dec 2006 (during the peak holiday season). Here is our itinerary:
Day 1: Pick up Arusha (JRO) and transfer to Impala Hotel or similiar hotel.
Day 2: After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara Hotel for afternoon game drive. Picnic Lunch. Dinner and overnight at Lake Kirurumu. BLD.
Day 3: Leave Lake Manyara for Serengeti, game drive in Serengeti, Serengeti Serena Lodge B,L,D.
Day 4: Serengeti Morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti, Serengeti Serena Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 5: Serengeti Morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti. South Serengeti at Ndutu. B,L,D.
Day 6: After breakfast, drive to Ngorongoro crater, stopping at Olduvai Gorge for a visit. Arrive at Ngorongoro crater for afternoon game drive in the crater. Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge B,L,D.
Day 7: Game drive in Ngorongoro crater, then drive to Arusha. Impala hotel. BL
BLD.
Day 8: Drive to Kilimanjaro mountain for Kili views. Visit any nearby places of interest. Drive to Arusha to catch flight to Zanzibar.
Day 9/10 Zanzibar and fly back.
This is semi-final and I would really like your views before I finalize the travel.
1. We want a permanent tented camp experience. Is Kirurumu the best or should we change it for something else in Serengeti.
2. Does the trip to Kili make sense just to look around (no hiking possible)
3. Any suggestions for change?
4. I am curious why travel operators want to go Lake Maynara to Serengeti to Ngorongoro instead of Lake Maynara to Ngorongoro to Serengeti. Any ideas. Distances and time information for our travel very much appreciated.
5. I have quotes from Sunny and GoodEarth. They are almost the same for adults but Sunny is $500 cheaper for each child. Any comments? Should I check with any other operator?
Thanks much,
Sue
Tanzania Trip
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I'll reply to the below:
"4. I am curious why travel operators want to go Lake Maynara to Serengeti to Ngorongoro instead of Lake Maynara to Ngorongoro to Serengeti. Any ideas. Distances and time information for our travel very much appreciated."
If you end in the Serengeti, especially anywhere from Central to North or West, you really can't drive all the way back to Arusha except if you want to spend at least 8-hrs on the road = wasted day.
Option would be to fly from the Serengeti. If travelers are on a budget, airfare may not be a consideration for them.
If you return from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro, you break travel time with the stop at the Crater. Then continue to Arusha next day, but this is also at least a 5-hr drive.
For the tented camp, I'd prefer to do that in the Serengeti, but it would probably add to the cost of your trip.
If your itinerary is set up so that you must hang around Arusha for Day 8, awaiting your flight, then making an effort to see the famous mountain makes sense.
If you think that is too much driving time for kids, you could concentrate on the "nearby places of interest." I believe you can do some village visits.
I'd mention Sunny's offer of the child discount to Good Earth and see how they respond.
What a nice way for the family to spend the holiday!